An amber heat alert in place in Salford has been extended by 24 hours as the UK experiences its hottest June day on record.
The record for the UK’s hottest June day was broken three times on Wednesday and surpassed the previous record from the summer of 1976.
Temperatures topped 30C in Salford and, with conditions forecast to get hotter on Thursday, a health warning issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been extended.
The amber warning, which was due to remain in place until 11pm on Thursday 25 June, has now been extended for a further 24 hours.
The warning means the UKHSA expects health and social care services to face significant disruption from the heat for another day.
It’s expected that there will be a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, increased demand on health and social care services and heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services.
The Met Office has advised that people in the alert area drink plenty of fluids, keep out of the sun, and avoid exercising between 11am and 3pm.
The extension to the weather warning comes after the UK recorded its hottest ever June day for the third time on Wednesday, with a provisional temperature of 36C exceeding the previous June record set in the summer of 1976.
The record was broken when provisional temperatures reached 36C in Wisley, Surrey, and Gosport, Hampshire, the Met Office said.
It follows provisional temperatures reaching 35.7C in Charlwood, Surrey, and 35.8C at Wiggonholt, West Sussex, earlier on in the day.
Wednesday’s highs break the previous top temperature of 35.6C in 1976 and 1957, the forecaster said.
It comes as much of England and Wales swelters in exceptionally hot and humid conditions, which have prompted a rare red warning from the Met Office for extreme heat.
The heatwave, which has led to health warnings, school closures and transport disruption, is driven by a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe that has brought extreme conditions across the continent.
The 50-year-old record has fallen as climate change is driving increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, which experts say the UK is not prepared for.
Figures are currently provisional and would be verified at the end of the heatwave to check if it is a new national record.
Met Office science manager Amy Doherty said: “If confirmed, a new June daily temperature record would be significant, especially following on the heels of the recent records set in May.
“The new record provides further evidence that temperatures previously considered extreme are becoming increasingly common as a result of human-induced climate change.”
Temperatures could rise even higher on Thursday, the Met Office said.
If they hit 39C, that would make it the second hottest day in the UK on record and the hottest June day on record. If 38C is recorded, that is still in the top five days ever recorded and still hotter than any day of the 20th century.
